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Sootka stared at her and smiled. "Do you miss Hawk?"
Eve thought about that. "Yes…I do." Her admission stunned her. Perhaps she should have lied, but this young woman seemed to understand it. It was the truth.
"That is good." Sootka smiled. "He is very handsome and very brave. If he were not yours, I would seek him out upon his return. But he is yours."
Eve cocked her head as she watched her baby playing with the other children. Jane Ann giggled.
"The old squaw says there is much love between you." Sootka chuckled.
Eve blushed. Perhaps silence was best at this point.
"How long ago did your husband die?" Eve asked.
"Yesterday!" Sootka's head bowed.
"Oh my God!" Eve stared at her.
"Hawk killed him." Sootka said quietly. "It was a fair fight. My husband challenged him, over you. My husband lost. But…had he won the battle, you would be my husband's white squaw."
"You mean…"
"Yes, he would have taken you, and we would be sisters."
Eve looked shocked, and stared at Sootka. "Oh dear God!"
"It is good that he died. My husband was handsome, strong and a good man. He has given me two sons. I did not want to share him with you. Even though we might have grown to be good friends. I did not want to share him. Do you understand?" Sootka said and walked away.
"Yes, I do!" Eve nodded and looked at her.
Sootka looked over her shoulder at her. "Then you understand why I am glad my husband is dead. For he died a brave death."
Eve watched her, she hadn't shed one tear, but it was obvious she had loved her husband, dearly.
Chapter Five
Hawk found Matthew, he'd just broken camp. Matthew saw him and ran up to him, hugging him.
Hawk stared down at him and wondered. He'd never met white people who could love so easily. It pleased him, and yet that brought Eve to mind.
He could not think on that right now, it might make him weak.
"You did well." He praised Matthew.
"I did exactly as you told me." Matthew said. "Where's my Ma and sister?" Matthew looked around for them, and then looked back at Hawk.
"I must go to get food and blankets to trade with."
"You gotta trade for her?" Matthew's gaze rounded on him now.
"Yes. We will go to your village…" Hawk told him.
"That's a good ten or so miles, maybe more from here." Matthew frowned.
"Then we must hurry!" Hawk told him. "You must be light on your feet and keep up. Because I must return quickly. I cannot baby you. You must run when I tell you and be very careful when I tell you. Do you understand?"
Matthew nodded.
As they traveled swiftly, Hawk had time to rethink what had happened between him and the white woman. He had merely wanted to save her from being taken by the Comanche warriors. He hadn't meant to…make love to her, but it was impossible to touch such a woman and not. Lovelier than a spring morning, Eve's gaze held as much desire as his own. It wasn't supposed to happen like that. But it had! She was his, whether she knew it or not.
